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The compound feed industry is being subjected to economic and political pressure. Declining numbers of animal stocks are now leading to lower sales expectations in the compound feed industry in Germany too. Furthermore, the feed industry is being stigmatised by groups in society who categorically reject meat eating as a mainstay of what they term mass animal husbandry.

Milk cows undergo periods of extreme energy requirements, especially during the early lactation phase corresponding to the highest milk production. Since these needs cannot be met solely through ingestion of feed, animals are consequently mobilizing adipose tissue to fill in the energetic gap. Providing animals with energy dense rations in the beginning of lactation is therefore of paramount importance to alleviate as much as possible fat reserve mobilization. This is often achieved by increasing the total amount of fermentable carbohydrate in the diet. However, it has to be performed cautiously in order to avoid the occurrence of other metabolic problems as i.e. acidosis associated with concentrate-rich diets.

One of the key tasks of the VDLUFA Sections is to conduct ring analyses. Ring analyses, also known as ring tests, enquetes, inter-laboratory studies or proficiency tests, are used for analytical quality assurance in analysis facilities, for developing, optimising or validating uniform analysis methods, for deriving statistical characteristic figures and for producing certified reference material.

» Compound feed with cobaltA safety hazard?

In the Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) No. 601/2013 five cobalt compounds have been re-authorised for use as feed additives. The regulation stipulates that all pure cobalt salts may only be added to the compound feed in the form of a premixture.

Turkey producers face a big challenge – namely, how to maintain high production levels in their birds and keep their feed costs low at the same time. Last year, the cost of turkey production in Germany raised 3 to 4 per cent, with similar increases expected this and next year. However, the net cost of a ration can be maintained with similar performance by using enzymes to get more nutrients from a given amount of feed. Choosing the most effective enzyme source is the challenge.» Saponins in ruminantsDiversity of natural compounds with promising health and performance benefits

Scientific research about alternatives to in-feed antibiotics used as growth promoters is a blooming subject since their European ban in 2006. Among the developed solutions, feed additives based on vegetal secondary metabolites (phytogenic substances) make a suitable field of research.

» High efficiency elevator bucketsModern versus traditional design

An elevator bucket is an elevator bucket, right? Not anymore. Recent advances in design technology have brought the advent of the modern high efficiency centrifugal discharge elevator bucket. High efficiency elevator buckets push the traditional limits of carrying capacity, input flow and discharge, construction materials and diminished shipping space.